{Thursday thoughts. }

Still....winter     Still.....snowing     Still......waiting for spring     Still....here 

Still  Still  Still.

This week got away on me.

I took this last Saturday night it was SO quiet out no cars, no people and no wind so I laid on the sidewalk and and took it and thought its so peaceful. so still.

How life should be right...

I feel still most days. I do feel peaceful yet like everyone some days we feel restless but our ultimate goal is to find peace inside and out and not let the little things bug us.

Whats Up around here:

lets see....

 we had a family get together put on by my sister in law Katelyn she planned out a fun family Olympics team relay races and dinner 

We are starting a bi monthly family activity that each family gets to be in change of throughout the year to keep us all connected and since 5 of the 9 kids live around here now there are lots of kids and lots of fun to be had and always ends in a little horse basketball game:)

 Getting ready for new beginnings next sunday ....so thankful for all the fun ideas on the internet makes life easier excited for our new beehives coming up:)

Watching lots of basketball K has come a long way in a year and is loving the game and looking pretty awesome out there:) practice practice:)

Finished this book My Story Elizabeth Smart its amazing if you ever feel sorry for yourself just remind yourself life could be so much worse so much Read it if you haven't its just amazing that she came through everything she did gives you lots to think about.

Other than that: Some random Thursday thoughts :

 

Getting stopped for speeding only to get a ticket for K2 not wearing his seatbelt which is precisely what I was telling him to do and that a cop would make us pay money if he didn't leave it on....and then it happened:(

{but apparently it was a lot cheaper than what it would have been so I probably should be grateful he didn't have his seatbelt on right ;) had he given me a speeding ticket I might owe a whole lot more money so..... thank you officer;) and K2 for not listening to mom;)

Just doing the everyday things to make things run smoothly around here because I'm hoping spring will come 

{being super positive here;) 

The snow will melt 

soccer will start

we will get away in three weeks for a warmer week away 

can't wait:)

Boat days, Camping days and celebrations will come 

kids running around all summer will come too 

in the meantime

life goes on..

we all get older...

The kids grow

My patience does too

I choose my battles more carefully

 "Be selective in your battles. 

Sometimes peace is better than being right."

Sit longer and listen 

Read to them, hug them 

tell them but more importantly SHOW them they are important

because it feels like they are growing up so fast every week that goes by I look at them and wonder 

"have I done any good"? Are they learning? do they know how loved they are?? Are they gaining strong testimonies? being honest?  and  happy? and well adjusted?

 so they can be just that when they are all grown and gone

We do the best we can the rest depends on them...

I sometimes wonder how I got so blessed to have these four littles..... I know you probably hear that to much here but I honestly never feel ungrateful a day because my life could be so different if we hadn't chosen adoption ....I became a mom through four other moms ...... our  prayers were answered in a far different way then I ever thought 

"Although there are many things about this life that I do not understand, there are some truths about which I no longer have any doubt."-Sherri Dew

prayer is one of those many times my prayers have been answered through others at just the right time exactly when my Heavenly Father knew I needed them. I know he hears us and I also know its not always anywhere close to what we *think  is good for us. 

In the long run and in the bigger picture its easier to step back and see just what it was we needed to learn and grow from in the situation and how far better off we are because of it.  

LIFE. Make it a good one. 

{Thankful.}

 

Its been awhile since I've done a thankful post. This will be a random thankful post but thankful none the less....

I'm thankful for pills;) stay with me years ago I had cysts yearly they'd build and build cause a lot of excruciating pain then they would rupture and I would spend about a week in the hospital after surgery of which I've had about 6 of them....  but in the past about 7 years I've been good if I take my pills that keep the cysts away and keep me balanced but when I forget to reorder or run out I get a little grouchy;) just ask my kids and D ha ha okay not funny but I am SO thankful to have found something that keeps them away and from building the actual purpose of the pills is to increase your chances of conceiving apparently for a lot of people that results in pregnancy. I on the other had just save myself alot of pain and a new slit on my stomach {though they do laproscopy now} Anyway thankful for something that works:) Here's the website if maybe it will help in a small way someone else {And I do know of like two people who took them and conceived of actual people I know I'm just not one of them;)}  

 "Comparing our blessings with those of others is almost certain to drive out joy. We cannot be grateful and envious at the same time." Quentin L Cook

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I am Thankful for my independent, wild child......free spirited runner....second miracle son..... who is more full of life than probably anybody I know.  He loves people, laughs to laugh, loves little kids, he can keep them entertained for hours, makes them laugh, walks through sinking mud to save them;) { ha ha he did that last week:) he watches over  them and they love him, he is independent and feisty and a big helper,  he is smart... to smart sometimes... we have been told "if he was on medication he'd be a genius" ........

WHAT no WAY!!  We may have stressed,  worried and tried "to tame" him in the past 7 years and he's caused more heart attacks then all my kids for his already short 9 lives.... life...... but I would NEVER put him on medication he is who he is and no amount of 5's on a report card will/can mean more to me then who he is!! 

HE has more drive and will power then any kid I know and it will take him far channeled in the right way. He would never sit at a desk job, push numbers or have any such staleness  for his life. I don't expect that but I expect great things for him because he has so much POTENTIAL and drive and to me he is a genius already and besides all that he gives the best hugs;) Can't even imagine life without our M!!  We love our M!

We aren't all book smart or academically brilliant, we aren't all good at sports or want to be. We aren't all pretty, skinny and popular but who cares.....  we can learn to listen, learn to adapt and besides God made us all perfect to him.....individuals.....

THATS WHY WE ARE WHO WE ARE.... WE ALL HAVE  DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, WE HAVE DRIVE  AND GUESS WHAT WERE ALL DIFFERENT:) Thats the beauty of life! 

Love all these kids and their differing personalities!! 

{St Paddy's day after school Snack and CHAT time:)

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Okay moving on SO lately I've been mixing it up SERIOUSLY are you like me and sometimes feel like you get stuck in rut, 

  Bills,  gray days, long days, maid days....... in whatever it may be

whether its in exercise, food or just plain life...

SAME running songs, same routes, same foods ....

SO I decided after such a long winter I needed a kick in the butt and to change things up work harder run harder eat a few different things.. I got out running OUTSIDE last week all week and it was amazing once again! 

After being on the treadmill all winter I was SO ready to get out.... Anyway and now its snowing again and welcome to spring I guess we should be used to this 7 month winter stuff  in SA:)
 SO I have some new foods I've been trying and are so good so I thought I'd share here with you you know in case your in a rut too:)

First up so THANKFUL for my dehydrator you know I LOVE CHEWY things and I love fruit and this takes care of my chewy cravings most of the time;)

ABOUT 6 hours on high in the dehydrator does the job 

I cut them up and 

squirt some lemon juice on them shake em up and lay em out:) 

Easy, Chewy and good for you:)  

{These pics are all from the internet not mine:)

Mornings look like this a lot I love egg whites with veggies a little basil and pepper, ham or even bacon bits sometimes scrambled on the stove till its done and yum:) A great start to the day?

Next up is my favorite a spinach with strawberries, a little feta {because I don't eat much dairy, I'm gluten free for the most part..... I don't use dressings, and I'm allergic to nuts:( So I have a few limits}  

some dried cranberries, and a sliced apple cubed  and yum! love it..

 Then there is this yummy from Costco A kale veggie salad I only add some feta to add a little moisture and texture and the cranberries and some pumpkin seeds its really good too!

Lately a once and awhile treat because it gives me a stomach bloat problem;) But a little Greek yogurt I just use the blue costco ones that come in a three pack.... 

I add a little raw honey, 

some fresh pineapple 

and some coconut chips 

{like the ones pictured in a previous post}

mix it up and enjoy a little tropic yummy:)

So growing up we always mixed peanut butter with syrup to make a think barely spreadable mixture for our pancakes and waffles did you too?? Anyway some genius @southern plate posted a recipe the kind that makes you go duh why didn't I think of that like maybe 40 years ago right mom:) ha ha:)

1 Minute Peanut Butter Syrup

Condiments

1/2 cup	Honey
1/4 cup	Peanut butter, creamy

Heat for 30 seconds in your microwave, stir. Heat thirty seconds more and stir until smooth and creamy. {vegan and GF:)

You’re done!

 Put it on your pancakes, french toast, waffles, ice cream 

MY KIDS ALL LOVED IT and didn't have anything else on there pancakes but that!  

Seriously how come I didn't think of that;)

 It's all about the food we eat! smart choices and getting off the couch you will feel so MUCH better I promise:)

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I started a Thankful journal in January and each night well most nights. I write in there something that I'm thankful for some days its hard to find something but there is always something in everyday to be thankful for and writing in my journal has helped me be more appreciative of where I am, where I live, what I have, and our life. AND the one thing I always know at the end of the day no matter how rough the day was TOMORROW is ALWAYS a new day for a fresh start.

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Thankful for an ACTUAL LETTER that made my day this week, fed my dreams and made me homesick for a place I've never been, descriptions that made me feel like I was right there! Straight from England and I loved it!:) !!  I LOVE LETTERS well all GOOD mail in general always have..... 

I buy things and packages are like Christmas randomly for me:) 

BUT I feel like letters are actually a lost art SO pick up your pen and paper and send someone a letter or a small package today!!! It will make their day we are such a RUSH RUSH world not taking enough time to sit and  really think about someone!! Try it:) 

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How did my baby get to be almost 5 !!! and I'm registering him for Kindergarten even our school secretary said already? I know eh!! Why do they grow up SO fast!! I'm so going to miss my little sidekick every morning:(( Love this kid!! With all my heart.  There is no sweeter, calmer, more caring and insightful little boy anywhere! What a blessing he is to everyone who knows him. No lie.

 I know before to long he'll be 12 like his big brother and his big brother will be off to bigger and better things....

The youth in our ward had an activity Tuesday night "A day in the life of a Missionary" he loved it and apparently did awesome teaching his "investigators" and speaking up when his "companion" didn't have much to say.... what a great opportunity for them all and how fast the years fly and before I know it that 

important little black tag will be real...

but thats what its all about:)

 SO thankful for my children and their growing testimonies, faith,  thoughts, talks and love.

"Our children are the warmth that we leave in the world long after our own fires are extinguished. " 

-love this

 

What are you thankful for?

Make it an amazing week:)

Spring is coming I can feel it:)

First up

WINNER WINNER IS 

#3-Maddie:)  

message me

Thanks for all your fun entries loved reading them and seeing that we all can't wait for SUMMER:) common theme after this long long winter were having:)

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Quiet kids who played for hours with marshmallows

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My Families Favorite Homemade Flour Tortillas
Our Best Bites Full recipe click here

Ingredients:

2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. very hot water
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. shortening

TIP: I roll my dough all  out and then take a small pan lid {I have Cuisinart art pans and basically cookie cutter them all and then individually roll and throw on pan:)

{though the Costco to cook ones are right up there when they have them in our country:)

Have you seen this website values.com super cool..

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Been trying this

 

its weird.... so naturally being weird I had to try....... but its kinda amazing...thats it....swish it...... research it... try it or don't;) 

but read these benefits

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Excited for Their New Cookbook

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 We woke up late every day this week rushed the kids out the door and rushed to get lunches done it's been a crazy time change for all of us hoping next week is better:)

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So last night was our wards March 17th party Celebration of the 172nd birthday of the Relief Society it was a really nice night from decor to program {I stole this pic from Kim coon:) hope she doesn't care} So I was asked to speak on Hope I pretty much sobbed through it. The speaker before me spoke on Faith and spoke about her daughters trial of infertility through heartache to failed procedures to adopting {a little close to home so I  was a little bit of a crying mess before I even started...

 I got asked to post it so I'm going to put it on here of course in real I elaborated a bit more on what was written ........but if it helps just one person than its worth it. Hope is what gets us through the hard times.. {So imagine a dark room lit with white lights around the room and candles in the center of the tables and as each of us spoke we turned on our lamp at our spots....}

Hope

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught: “Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time”

My favorite Scripture goes perfectly with the theme I was asked to speak on

Ether 12:6

"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

One definition of the word hope is happy anticipation of something good. Live with expectancy. Go out each day looking for goodness. 

- Joel Olsteen

"hope is not pretending that troubles don't exist. it is the hope that they won't last forever. That hurts will be healed and difficulties overcome. that we will be led out of the darkness. and into the sunshine."

Hope is an emotion which brings richness to our everyday lives. It is defined as “the feeling that … events will turn out for the best.” When we exercise hope, we “look forward … with desire and reasonable confidence” . As such, hope brings a certain calming influence to our lives as we confidently look forward to future events.

Sometimes we hope for things over which we have little or no control. We hope for good weather. We hope for an early spring. We as women to have a loving spouse,  a next to perfect marriage, children and the list goes on and on and....and when our hope is dashed our faith is tested and life doesn't go as we dreamed we ........

"Sometimes  get caught up in the one-size-fits-all mentality, comparing  we feel that our lives should look like other people’s lives. But that’s really not true. Everyone has different trials, and Heavenly Father is aware of those. If we are humble enough to follow the plan He has for us, if we have hope and faith we’ll be happy.”

“What I would have planned for our life would pale in comparison to what God has given us. What He has in mind for His children is better than anything we could ever design.”

in an ensign article I swear was written just for me some things that were said were:

"God does not leave His children alone in their trials. "Never give up,"...."There is always Hope. Heavenly Father always has something in store for us. We have found that over and over. 

For a long time

"I felt lost. I felt I had no purpose. That's the ultimate goal isn't it, to get married and have a family?.... I felt broken, like I wasn't a real woman...."

"I remember wondering how something that was so important in life could be denied me, {{I am positive we all have similar situation fears and trials .......lost hope} 

My feelings of hurt ......pain for all others wanting a righteous desire only to have it denied...I felt more empathy towards others and learned that my attitude,and my spirit was growing and learning through this trial.....

Hearing new mothers say things like " God trusted me enough to bless me with this baby." I can understand why they say that. It's a fair statement. But in my situation without a child I couldn't help but think, "God doesn't trust me." "I felt so left out. So hopeless and HELPLESS... I felt my faith waver and questioned many many times. Why were all these other women getting to experience pregnancy? I had tried to live my life worthily and do things I knew were right. So why wasn't it happening for me?"

Then I read this quote one day...

" When someone has an ailment or an illness and they are healed as a result of a blessing, their faith is being strengthened. But for those of us who aren't healed their faith is being perfected. the first is a faith-promoting experience. the second is faith-perfecting. -Brenda H.

"I couldn't and can't change the infertility, but I can progress in other areas of my life......I finally realized that infertility wasn't a punishment. I was my refiner's fire."-angie belnap

" It helped me realize amid a lot of unknowns that I was really blessed to have a husband who is so good to me, who loves me, and who was willing to work through this together....It didn't mean that we got rid of the ups and downs. It didn't mean that there weren't times that were scary. But we've learned so much and grown so much closer because of what we've been through." and because of HOPE....it lead us down a road we never

We then began to look at Adoption we had never really thought about it until it became our only option.

"We long for the ultimate blessing of the Atonement—to become one with Him, to be in His divine presence, to be called individually by name as He warmly welcomes us home with a radiant smile, beckoning us with open arms to be enfolded in His boundless love. How gloriously sublime this experience will be if we can feel worthy enough to be in His presence! The free gift of His great atoning sacrifice for each of us is the only way we can be exalted enough to stand before Him and see Him face-to-face. The overwhelming message of the Atonement is the perfect love the Savior has for each and all of us. "There is joy guaranteed for the faithful.” –Henry B. Eyring

As you turn more fully to Christ and bring your life in line with His teachings, you are promised great hope and peace,  sincere joy. He is the ultimate source of comfort and will never leave you alone.

“Trials and difficulties can, if we let them, become holy places—places where we can feel the power of the Atonement in our lives. Our struggles can be consecrated to our good and growth, and you and I can become more like Christ ....through hope.”
—Kris Belcher

We should all face the future with hope because we know that the forces of evil will be overcome. We should all maintain a positive outlook as we face challenges because today we have the scriptures, the teachings of living prophets, priesthood authority, temples, and the support of each other as members of the Church. We should all “come off conqueror” because of prayer (D&C 10:5). And most important, we should have hope in eternal life because of the Lord’s perfect atoning sacrifice (see Moroni 7:41).

When our priorities are right, we will live a richer and more abundant life. Putting the Lord, His kingdom, and our families first will give us the hope we need to face present and future challenges.

I know this is true and I am so thankful for my life, my trials in what they have taught me and in turn given me hope and  far more than I ever dreamed possible 

I feel blessed yet my heart still aches sometimes but it's okay I have hope......WE ALL HAVE OUR HEARTACHES SOME MORE THAN WE COULD EVER IMAGINE.  BUT because I have Hope in the Future and in the Atonement that it is there for all of us

 hope got me where I am today.....

I have been blessed throughout the years and am thankful for my little family, my husband and for a Heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers in ways we never imagined. I know that being strong HAVING HOPE  and following that still small voice and praying like we've never prayed before will get us farther than we ever thought possible. Staying true to the Gospel and every beautiful thing it provides in our lives will bring us closer to him and closer to where we are meant to be. 

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"Often people who criticize your life are the same people that don't know the price you paid to get to where you are today."

-Love this. Everybody has a story. Be nice:)

Make it the best week yet:)

{10 on Tuesday}

Its been a week but feels longer than that its been a deep freeze for so long here I feel like I may lose my mind some days but this to shall pass right:) And spring will come just like every stage of life sometimes there are parts we don't like, trials we endure, but spring will come. New life, new growth, new energy... and thats what I'm holding onto these days enjoying what each day brings and whats to come. Because with each day we get that much closer to where we want to be if we hold on. 

No matter what it is.

1. “It is not so much the major events as the small day-to-day decisions that map the course of our living. . . Our lives are, in reality, the sum total of our seemingly unimportant decisions and of our capacity to live by those decisions.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley

{true}

2. My baby {who happens to be 12 ha ha} went on his first 6th grade field trip skiing today he was SO excited he could hardly sleep and all I could think about was will he be okay will he be safe will he get hurt have we taught him enough with a strong foundation to go out into the world and survive I think about that a lot lately. He's a good kid handsome kind and nice in all the things that matter... The worlds a scary place I can't help but worry...

Seems like he was just starting school yesterday

 after a long day skiing:)  i just love this boy!!

3. These are amazing. costco. whole food yumminess.

  

4.  life. lots of time. thoughts. reminders. still hurts.

 

5.truth. Its all in the Attitude.
Life is Hard sometimes, but you make it harder by choosing a bitter path.

 6. This girl. My little sassy pants. She's getting good at push ups;)
{cause in our house sass means get down and give me 10;) 
Love this girl.

7. Remember When. Time goes by so fast. Cutest little kids ever! Miracles:)

8. People always ask me what I eat since I'm anal and have lots of allergies.... not that everyday is awesome but everyday is a fresh start.... It helps that I love veggies and fruit, some egg whites and a little meat every now and then lots of smoothies:) and the occasional chewy treat cause I can't totally give those up;)  Today's breakfast below was so good:)  So basically clean eating gluten/dairy free for the most part and i feel so much better:) 

9. Have you watched THIS its fabulous.  

and THIS

10.  "If we look into each other's hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other with much more love, patience, tolerance and care.

- Elder Marvin J. Ashton

Love this.

So much going on in the world we all need a little happy,
a little reminder that we are important, 
a little sunshine to feel the love, 
a little fresh air a deep breath to be thankful for all that we do have right now despite the freezing cold sometimes that seems to last forever!

SO HOW ABOUT A HAPPY PACKAGE Giveaway:))

Next TUESDAY the 11th I'll pick a name:)

FOR

A pair of Dandilicious Earrings These or a darker pink diamond shape ones ................and some extra happy surprises:)

Tell me what your looking forward to during 

SPRING BREAK or SUMMER
thoughts? questions?

OR Something YOU love a new favorite anything...
 just talk to me ha ha:)

H A V E  A  G R E A T  D A Y  :)